Did you know that a stunning working horse ranch, backed by the Canadian government and open to trail riders, sits on the doorstep of the Rocky Mountains? Yes, it’s true. Ya Ha Tinda Ranch — owned and operated by Parks Canada — is the only federally run horse ranch in the country and marked its 100th anniversary in 2017.

While horses are the heart of any stable, there’s a hidden menace that can undermine their health, safety, and even the structural integrity of the facilities: rats. These unwelcome intruders pose serious risks to equine operations by spreading disease, destroying property, and contaminating food and bedding. Understanding the threat and implementing robust prevention and control strategies is essential for protecting both animals and infrastructure.

In the world of therapeutic riding, a multitude of heroes make a lasting impact. Selecting just one to honour as a Horse Community Hero is never easy — but in this issue, two remarkable therapy horses stand out: Rupert and Buck.

If you’re looking for a beneficial off-season activity to share with your horse, showmanship skills can be introduced while wearing your winter boots and even in the barn aisle. Just 15 minutes of in-hand training per day will, like planting fall tulip bulbs, bear results in show season.

Is ‘natural’ just a label in equine care? In today’s equine industry, the terms natural and organic are commonly used. While "organic" is a regulated label in equine product development and marketing, "natural" is not subject to the same standards. Horse owners must exercise greater caution when selecting "natural" products, as the term can be misleading.

Every interaction we have with a horse involves principles of learning, whether we are aware of it or not. Problems arise when the wrong technique is chosen, or a correct one is applied incorrectly. In such cases, the horse can become confused and respond with behaviours often labelled as stubborn, unwilling, naughty, or even dangerous.

Common in certain horse populations, enteroliths are mineral-based stones that gradually form in the large colon over several years. Composed primarily of struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate), these stones develop around a central foreign object—such as a pebble, hair, baling twine, metal, or rubber—and often take on round, triangular, or flat shapes. Although they may remain undetected for long periods, enteroliths can shift and obstruct the intestinal tract, leading to episodes of colic in horses.

The equestrian world is steeped in tradition, with practices passed down through generations of riders, trainers, and coaches. While these longstanding approaches often carry wisdom, they can also keep us stuck if we aren’t willing to evolve and integrate new knowledge as it becomes available.

For many horse owners, visits from the farrier occur every six weeks and typically involve routine trimming or standard horseshoeing. When a horse remains consistently sound and performs well, regular farriery by an experienced professional is usually sufficient for optimal hoof health. However, when soundness problems or decreased performance arise, more specialized farriery approaches may be needed to restore comfort and function.